If you are buying a diamond above 0.25 carat in size, it is important to buy a certified diamond. The certificate is your guarantee that the diamond has been independently tested to ensure that it has not been artificially enhanced in any way and that it has been professionally graded to assess the carat weight, colour and clarity. However, not all diamond grading labs adhere to the same strict standards. This is why at Samara James we only buy GIA certified diamonds to ensure we offer diamonds conforming to the most rigorous standards.

Yes, we can send you a scanned copy of the diamond certificate by email prior to purchase. You can also arrange an appointment to visit us where we can show you the diamond at our showroom in Shepperton. We can then show you the full details of the diamond using our video microscope and our various tools to assess light performance.

Yes, please contact us prior to your purchase and we will confirm the availability of the specific diamond you are looking for.

A certificate tells you the main characteristics of the diamond you are buying. All Samara James, natural mined diamonds that have an individual carat weight of 0.3 carats or above are certified to ensure consistent quality is delivered to our customers. We use GIA certified natural diamonds as they adhere to very strict grading standards.

Nearly all naturally occurring diamonds have some degree of fluorescence. However, at Samara James we only offer diamonds which have either 'no fluorescence' or have been graded as having 'faint' or 'slight' fluorescence. At this low level, any fluorescence does not affect the beauty of the diamond. We do not sell any diamonds with fluorescence above this level. To read more about fluorescence please click here.

'Conflict diamonds' is a term used to describe diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognised governments and are used to fund military action in oppositions to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council. Our policy on conflict diamonds is absolutely rigorous. We will not buy, sell or handle any diamonds of unclear provenance. We insist that all of our suppliers subscribe to The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme.

We purchase our diamonds from a small number of carefully selected diamond companies who are recognised as being amongst the world's finest diamond polishing companies. Purchasing from these companies directly rather than using a wholesaler means we know the diamond mine that the stones were sourced from and where they were polished. We can then guarantee that our diamonds are of the highest quality and that they are free of any treatments that some companies use to artificially enhance the appearance of their stones. We are also able to guarantee that we do not supply conflict diamonds. If you would like to view a specific diamond or to see our range of perfectly cut Canadian diamonds please contact us to arrange an appointment.

If you would like expert advice on any aspect of diamonds or diamond jewellery from one of our GIA qualified Graduate Gemologists please call us on 01932 260 100 or email us at sales@samarajames.com. We can give you a no obligation telephone consultation or we can book you in to visit us at our showroom where our experts to talk you through all of the various options. You may also like to sign up to a complimentary buying guides where you will receive extremely useful information and advice on what to look for when choosing a diamond ring.

We specialise in perfectly cut natural mined diamonds so the answer is a definite yes. In fact, we have a range of tools including Idealscope and ASET to assess and demonstrate the light performance of our diamonds. We also use the cut grading software developed and used by AGS in their labs to assesses every aspect of light performance. We can also supply a Sarin report for any of our diamonds. Finally we have a video microscope which allows us to both video and photograph any of our diamonds at up to 300 times magnification so you can really see the details of any inclusions in the diamond before you purchase.

Yes, in fact we hold in stock a number of natural mined diamonds just below the main carat options as these can offer excellent value for money giving a diamond which is very close in appearance to the larger size but for significantly lower cost. If you would like us to quote for a specific size of diamond please contact us to discuss in more detail. If you do order a particular carat weight through our website we guarantee that the diamond you will receive will be at least this carat weight.

Yes. Should you not see exactly what you are looking for please contact us as we are able to source loose natural mined diamonds or lab grown diamonds to specific requirements at very competitive prices. Please contact us for more information and a quote.

Yes. Please contact us as we are able to source lab grown diamonds to specific requirements at very competitive prices. Please contact us for more information and a quote.

A lab grown diamond is a man-made gemstone created in a controlled laboratory setting. While it possesses many of the same characteristics as a natural diamond, it lacks the deep history and romantic allure of diamonds formed over millions of years beneath the Earth's surface.

If you are buying a lab grown diamond above 1.0 carat in size, it is important to buy a certified diamond. Lab grown diamonds over 1.0ct are certified, generally by GIA or IGI, who are the leading lab grown diamond grading companies. The certificate is your guarantee that the diamond has been independently tested and professionally graded to assess the carat weight, colour and clarity. However, not all diamond grading labs adhere to the same strict standards. This is why at Samara James we only buy GIA or IGI certified lab grown diamonds to ensure we offer diamonds conforming to the most rigorous standards.

Lab grown diamonds are manufactured using technological processes like HPHT (High Pressure Heat Treatment) and CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition). Unlike natural diamonds, which are forged by nature over millennia and carry a unique story, lab-grown diamonds are created in a matter of weeks.

This is a very interesting question, as mining for diamonds, which are an incredibly rare material, involves the processing of around 200 tonnes of ore to produce 1.0ct of cut and polished diamond. However lab grown diamonds are created using extreme heat and pressure: it's no coincidence that many mines are found in the cones of extinct volcanoes! This means that to create a lab grown diamond the machines use something like 1000 kWh per carat of polished diamond produced - the same as running a 2 bedroomed house for 4 years!

While lab grown diamonds share the same chemical composition as natural diamonds, they don't possess the rare and unique formation process that adds intrinsic value and romantic symbolism to natural diamonds nor the unique characteristics of natural diamonds.

While lab grown diamonds are closer in composition to natural diamonds than simulants like cubic zirconia or moissanite, they still can't replicate the emotional and symbolic significance of a diamond created by nature.

Yes, they are very much discounted compared to natural diamonds. But while they might be more affordable, natural diamonds offer a unique blend of rarity, history, and sentiment that many believe is priceless.

Specialised equipment and trained gemologists can easily detect the differences. While both are beautiful, many cherish natural diamonds for the unique journey they've taken over millions of years to reach us.

Lab grown diamonds do address some ethical concerns associated with mining. However, all Samara James natural diamonds are responsibly sourced and adhere to strict ethical standards, offering both romance and peace of mind.

The resale value of lab grown diamonds is still being determined, at present there is no resale market or value in second hand lab grown diamonds. Natural diamonds, on the other hand, have a long-established resale market and often hold or increase in value over time, symbolising a lasting legacy.

While lab grown diamonds do have a smaller environmental footprint, choosing ethically mined natural diamonds ensures support for sustainable mining practices and the communities they uplift.

Yes, all Samara James rings are hallmarked, it is a legal requirement in the UK that all precious metal is tested and marked by the Assay office.

The grade of platinum and palladium we use as standard is 950 purity. The grade of gold is 18k (hallmarked 750). We use these standards consistently unless a variation is requested by the customer. For example, if you had a preference for 22k gold rather than 18k gold.

For more information on hallmarking and how your precious metal should be identified please click this link.

After choosing an item you would like to purchase click on the "Add to Basket" button. If for any reason you are unable to order in this way please send us an email to sales@samarajames.com detailing the item or items you would like to purchase with your name and telephone number and we will contact you to arrange payment and delivery. Alternatively you can contact us by telephone on 01932 260 100.

You can pay by credit or debit card via our secure server or alternatively we offer a small discount if you wish to pay by bank transfer. We can also accept payments in person at our showrooms by cash or cheque (please allow 15 working days for cheques to clear) - please contact us if you would like to use an alternative form of payment.

We have a secure server through which we process all our payment transactions, this connects directly to the banking system and your card details are never seen or held by us. Alternatively if you would like to pay by credit or debit card by phone please send us an email to sales@samarajames.com detailing the item or items you would like to purchase with your name and telephone number and we will contact you to arrange payment and delivery. Alternatively you can contact us by telephone on 01932 260 100.

Once we receive your order we will send you a confirmation email. If you do not receive this within 24 hours please send us an email to sales@samarajames.com and we will check the status of the order. When the order is processed and packaged ready for dispatch we will send you a second email to confirm this. To avoid our message being classified as "junk" please add the email address sales@samarajames.com to your email contacts or to your email safe list.

We offer a 60 day money back guarantee on all of our standard products to allow you time to ensure you are entirely happy with your purchase. We also offer a full life time guarantee, which covers any manufacturing defects. Where work has been carried out by a 3rd Party this guarantee becomes void.

Please note that due to the exceptional skill of our setters your stones will not fall out of your jewellery, they can only be dislodged. We therefore strongly recommend that you insure your jewellery as loss of diamonds or other stones do not fall under the Samara James guarantee.

Please contact us. If the item has not yet been dispatched we will cancel the order at no charge. If the item has already been dispatched please see our returns policy.

To return an item please contact us to inform us the item will be returned. Provided the item is returned to us within 60 days in an unworn condition and in its original packaging we will happily process a full refund.

Items not covered by our money back guarantee are engraved items and bespoke designs not on our website that we have created to your specification. For full details see our returns policy.

The address for returns is: Samara James Returns Department, Shepperton Marina, Felix Lane, Shepperton, TW17 8NS

Yes, we are able to deliver to wide variety of countries outside of the UK including most of Western Europe and the USA. For orders delivered outside of the UK we will not charge VAT.

This complaints process will be used if you purchased a product or service from us and you’re not happy with the outcome. In the first instance we ask that you contact us by telephone or e-mail. You can make an appointment to come in and see us to talk face to face, but we would ask that you first put the complaint in writing or speak to us on the telephone so that the correct person can be available to see you when you come in.

Please can you provide as much of the following information as you can, including your order number, who you spoke to or corresponded with, the item(s) you bought, the nature of your complaint, and what resolution you would like.

Our first resolution is always to try to solve the problem informally with you first. One of our management team will talk the issue through with you and discuss possible resolutions and outcomes with you.

If however we do not manage to come to agreement informally we will then follow a formal complaints process.

Firstly, one of our Senior Sales Managers will investigate and send you a formal response to your complaint. This will happen within 4 weeks of your complaint.

If you are not satisfied at this point, you may then ask for your complaint to be reviewed by a Company Director. This will happen within 4 weeks of your request.

Lastly, alternative dispute resolution; You can ask for the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) to look at your complaint. The NAJ is independent and separate from Samara James Retail Limited. This is the final stage of the complaints process.

It can be stressful to make a complaint and we appreciate things can get frustrating when they don’t go right, but we won’t accept poor treatment of our staff while dealing with your complaint. This includes aggressive behaviour, abusive language, or unreasonable demands – like demanding that someone talks to you immediately or that you must speak to a specific person.

If you behave this way, we may end the conversation or ask you to leave the store. If, despite warnings, you continue this behaviour we might limit our communication with you to email or letter only.

Samara James offers a complimentary re-sizing service on our diamond engagement and dress rings. They can be re-sized once, within 1 year of purchase, free of charge. If you need a different size just contact us and our consultants will explain the process to return the ring back to us. We will adjust it in our workshop and arrange return shipping with you. Where possible, we also include bespoke-made rings. Shipping and handling fees apply.

For plain (not diamond set) wedding rings which are the incorrect size you simply return them to us in unworn condition within 60 days of purchase by Royal Mail Special Delivery and we will replace with a new ring in the correct size. Channel set full and 60% set 'eternity' style wedding rings are also covered under this policy, and will be replaced with a new ring in the correct size if returned in an unworn condition within 60 days.

For wedding rings which have been worn and customised wedding rings there will be a re-sizing charge. Diamond set eternity style rings cannot be resized, but can be exchanged (as above) for a different size free of charge if in an unworn condition within 60 days of purchase.

Where it is not possible to resize in the traditional manner (for example if the band is set with diamonds all the way around the band) and where it is not possible to exchange (if the ring has been worn or is bespoke) we will advise you of the options and costs. For all of our re-sizing work we use a laser so you can be assured of a completely invisible join, with no solder added or other impurities. Just a perfectly sized ring!

If you would like to find your exact ring size from the comfort of your own home we would be very pleased to send you one of our complimentary ring sizing gauge. Just click here and fill in your address details and we will then send you a free sizing gauge by post.

Yes, all jewellery made by Samara James will be presented in one of our natural, environmentally friendly, wooden presentation boxes. There is a video of the full presentation packaging on each product page.

Yes, we can arrange to gift-wrap your order. This is a complimentary service.

Yes! At Samara James we have extensive experience designing and making a variety of beautiful and intricate jewellery designs. After discussing your requirements we produce a selection of photo realistic images so you can see exactly how the design will appear in real life. Our design service is also free of cost - we just require an initial deposit which is fully refundable if you decide not to proceed with the design. If you would like more information or if you would like to view our video on how we make a bespoke design please click here.

At Samara James we have access to many hundreds of different designs frequently seen on the High Street and can usually make exactly what you would like. If we don't have the pattern then our Bespoke Design Service will be able to create the exact design that you are looking for.